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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Does anybody have cats?

16 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 24/07/2013 10:56

I have just got back from letting my GP know I'm pregnancy and she gave me some information on cat poo and toxoplasmosis as I have got 2 cats and they do use a litter tray.

How did everyone else accommodate this?

My cats do go outside but the tray is just there as a back up, particularly for overnight . I guess I could remove the litter tray completely but then I'd worry there may be accidents around the house....

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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EmB1715 · 24/07/2013 11:00

Yep we do. He's an indoor cat so exclusive litter tray use. I haven't touched it since becoming pg...DH has done it all. But you can clean/empty it, just wear gloves and wash hands and arms well afterwards. Also be careful if you're using the clay litter as the dust can't be to breathe in. We use wood pellet litter which is quite good!

carameldecaflatte · 24/07/2013 11:04

Dh took over litter duty and on the odd occasion when I did it I wore rubber gloves, put a bin bag over the tray and tipped it all in so I didn't breathe any litter in. Don't worry too much, just take sensible precautions.

JakeBullet · 24/07/2013 11:07

Hi writer, how old are your cats? Chancez are that they are immune to toxoplasmosis if they are over 2 yeats old.

However don't rely on yhat, just ask your OH to take over the litter tray duties now you are pregnant.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 24/07/2013 11:15

They are sisters from the same litter and they were 2 in the February just gone.

My husband didn't want the cats in the first place - it took MONTHS of nagging him before he caved and let me have them.

I fear this news isn't going to go down well....

OP posts:

Mogz · 24/07/2013 11:35

If you have to deal with the litter tray get yourself some disposable gloves and make sure you scrub down with a good antibacterial soap afterwards.
I'm lucky as both of mine go outside all the time, if there anyway you can allow them access to the outside overnight?

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 24/07/2013 11:40

Yes, they have a cat flap so they are always in and out but I think they have just got used to the tray being there.

I have discussed getting rid of it but I know my cats will then poo in the garden and I absolutely definitely don't want that.

I just don't know what to do for the best really.

OP posts:

gillybeandramaqueen · 24/07/2013 11:47

I have cats. The toxiplas thing is really just if your cats hunt birds and mice etc... that you don't want to be handling their poo afterwards... that's where the real danger lies.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 24/07/2013 11:50

One of my cats doesn't have any hunter-streak in her, whilst the other only hunts moths, daddy longlegs and butterflies

The only other things she brings in through the cat flap are pebbles, flowers, twigs and leaves

Sometimes we come home from work and find half our garden in the kitchen

OP posts:

VelvetStrider · 24/07/2013 11:52

I used it as a good excuse for DP to empty the cat litter for 9 months.

In fact he also believed me when I lied suggested it probably wasn't a good idea for a breastfeeding mother to be cleaning up cat cronk either!

Madratlady · 24/07/2013 11:57

We have 2 cats which DH definitely doesn't like as much as I do, but we both agreed to get cats and now he does all the litter tray cleaning (about once a week cos they mostly go outside now). I'm still on dead bird and rodent duty though.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 24/07/2013 11:59

hahaha [grin

My cheeky hubby was washing his car earlier and asked me if I'd clean his wheel alloys for him! My response was, "I'm pregnant with your child and you expect me to get down on the floor and wash your tyres?????????????"

He rolled his eyes and asked if I wouldn't mind getting him the hoover then so he could do the inside of his car. I promptly told him I'm not supposed to carry anything heavy, haha

I figure we should milk our pregnant state as much as possible

OP posts:

misskatamari · 24/07/2013 14:14

We have cats but they go outside. Remember if you do gardening to wear gloves though as there might be traces in soil etc along with other nasties

HazleNutt · 24/07/2013 15:11

chances that you will get toxo from your cats are very, very small. I've had cats my whole life, currently own 3, and I have not had toxo. Most people who have it have got it from eating undercooked meat.

moonbells · 24/07/2013 15:17

When I was pg DH was abroad on a contract so I had to do the cat's tray - bought a box of disposable latex gloves and did everything at arms' length, then dropped the gloves into the binbag after the litter.

Yes to wood pellet litter. Just don't get the scented version because of the heightened sense of smell in pregnancy...

Madratlady · 24/07/2013 15:33

I'm still doing everything else as normal apart from the cat litter tray, although I did wonder whether I should be lugging a 15kg bag of cardboard bedding for our rats and rabbits about the other day.

rallytog1 · 24/07/2013 16:30

Ideal scenario is that you get your DP to do the trays while you're pregnant.

If that's not possible you just need to wear rubber gloves and be scrupulous about hygiene.

As a pp said, the chances of getting toxo are very low and many cat owners are immune because they've already had it (usually without knowing). You're more likely to get it from undercooked meat or unwashed fruit and veg. So just be sensible and keep everything clean and you'll be fine!

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